
NOTE.—Jesus does not forbid our having treasures, but He warns
us to put them in a safe place. "The instruction is to 'lay up for your-
selves treasures in heaven.' It is for your own interest to secure heav-
enly riches. These alone, of all that you possess, are really yours. The
treasure laid up in heaven is imperishable."—Id., pp. 133, 134.
"In every effort to benefit others, we benefit ourselves. He who
"gives money or time for spreading the gospel enlists his own interest
and prayers for the work, and for the souls to be reached through it;
his affections go out to others, and he is stimulated to greater devotion
to God, that he may be enabled to do them the greatest good. And at the
final day, when the wealth of earth shall perish, he who has laid up
treasure in heaven will behold that which his life has gained."—Id.,
p. 135.
3.
What is the result of laying up our treasures in any place?
Verse 21.
4.
How does Jesus further show the importance of seeking God
with singleness of purpose and heart? What only is necessary to have
the whole body full of light? Verses 22, 23.
NOTE.—The direction of the eye shows the purposes of the man, and
the laying up of treasures shows the affections of the heart. He who
has a single purpose to do God's will and steadfastly looks to God will
be guided and filled with the light of God. He whose purpose is turned
upon the low, dark ambition of selfishness, worldliness, and sin will
become a body of darkness.
5.
What can no man do? Why not? What two masters are men-
tioned? Verse 24.
NOTE.—"Christ does not say that man will not or shall not serve
two masters, but that he cannot. The interests of God and the interests
of mammon have no union or sympathy. Just where the conscience of
the Christian warns him to forbear, to deny himself, to stop, just there
the worldling steps over the line, to indulge his selfish propensities. On
one side of the line is the self-denying follower of Christ; on the other
side is the self-indulgent world lover, pandering to fashion, engaging
in frivolity, and pampering himself in forbidden pleasure. On that
side of the line the Christian cannot go.
"No one can occupy a neutral position; there is no middle class,
who neither love God nor serve the enemy of righteousness. . . . He
who does not give himself wholly to God, is under the control of an-
other power, listening to another voice, whose suggestions are of an
entirely different character. Half-and-half service places the human
agent on the side of the enemy, as a successful ally of the_ hosts of
darkness."—Id., p. 139.
6.
When we are serving God, about what would He not have us
become anxious? What is most important? Verse 25.
NOTE.—Jesus anticipated that, some would be tempted to believe
that they cannot get clothing or food unless they serve the world or
themselves. His effort in. all this instruction is to lead men to the
higher service alone, that of God. Whatever we do, do it as unto God,
and leave results with Him. "Take no thought" is better expressed in
the Revised Version, "Be not anxious." The word means anxious,
troubled, worried thought. So also in verses 27, 28, 31, and 34.
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